EAS/RELI 130

Asian Philosophies, Religions, and Cultures

Spring 2016 7W1 online
Instructor: Alison C. Jameson, PhD
Email: ajameson@email.arizona.edu
Office: LSB 307
Office Hours: M and W 11:30-1:30 and by appointment
Description
This course is a General Education Course with a Diversity Emphasis: Non-Western
Civilizations. As such, we will examine cultural perspectives, behavior, and influences delimited
not only by geographic location but by the dominant thoughts of the Western world. It is not
necessary to have background in either Western or non-Western thought to take this class.
We will survey five religious traditions founded and developed in Asia, including two from
India: Hinduism and Buddhism, two from China: Confucianism and Taoism, and one from
Japan: Shinto. The survey of each religious tradition includes study and analysis of: 1. a primary
or sacred text, 2. contemporary beliefs and practices in Asia, and 3. influence on modern culture.
The course studies how the central tenets and teachings of pre-modern Asian religions create the
cultural roots of contemporary Asian cultures.
Objectives
The goal of the course is for you to gain or improve your knowledge of Asian
religions and their influence on modern Asian cultures. At the end of this course, students who
have regularly prepared and actively participated will be able to:
explain Asias most central and significant religious values
analyze Asias current religious characteristics and their influence on Asian
society
articulate different theses and arguments about Asian religions
communicate effectively in writing about Asian religions
Methodology
The course attempts to motivate each student to carefully read each assignment,
critically engage with each reading or video, and then evaluate the knowledge and insights their
study produces through comprehension quizzes, reflection essays, and discussions. All
assignments are completed online. Students are responsible for access to a working computer
and internet.
Textbook
Nadeau, Randall Laird. Asian Religions : A Cultural Perspective. Chichester: Wiley
Blackwell. 2014

Grades
Quizzes
25%
Discussions 30%
Reflections 45%
Comprehension Quizzes
A comprehension quiz evaluates each of the five (5) units in the course (5 quizzes total). Each
quiz will consist of 10 multiple choice and true/false questions and will cover material from the
online content modules, videos, and readings. Each question is worth two (2) points; each quiz is
worth twenty (20) points. Each quiz will be available for three days. The quizzes are timed,
allowing 20 minutes in which to answer the 10 questions. Quizzes may be attempted two (2)
times. The score of your higher attempt will be recorded. Because questions are randomized,
completing both your attempts is encouraged to check your comprehension of the material as
well as to get the highest possible grade. The quizzes are as much a self-check process as an
assessment; your best practice will be to take the quiz early, see what you missed, study, and then
retake later. Taking the quiz twice on Sunday night is the least effective learning method.
Reflection Essays
An understanding of three of the sessions is evaluated with a reflection essay, three (3) essays
total. These essays are available in the drop box. You will be given a prompt to write on.
Reflection essays have no single correct answer; grading is based on the effectiveness and value
of your thesis, arguments, and insights based on a thorough and conscientious reading of the
texts and online lessons. Each essay is to be approximately 800 words long, with proper citation
if you use resources other than your own ideas and words. Please refer to the rubric before
beginning your reflection paper. Your reflection papers will be evaluated for format,
organization, style, grammar, and punctuation, as well as content and participation in the
scholarly conversation.
Your first reflection paper may be rewritten for a higher grade after you receive feedback on it.
The revised paper must be submitted no later than February 3.
This is a writing-intensive course, as designated by the College of Humanities. As such, a
minimum of 2500 words of writing is required in the course. Your reflection papers make up the
bulk of this writing (at least 800 words each, or 2400 words). Your substantive discussion posts
also contribute to the writing portion of the course, for which please see the next section.
Discussions: our virtual classroom
There will be two discussion forums in the first week (one being an introduction), and one per
week subsequently, for a total of nine discussion forums. All discussions are required; once a
forum has closed, it will not reopen.
Please note that your discussion forums count as part of the writing-intensive requirement for
this course. Each post should be well written, with correct spelling, correct grammar, and
college-level vocabulary. Each substantive post consists of about 100 words - a good argument in
answer either to the original prompt or the person to whom you are replying. All writing is

evaluated for format, organization, style, grammar, and punctuation, as well as content and
participation in the scholarly conversation.
Each discussion forum requires a minimum of three posts: an original post that answers the
prompt, and two posts in reply to other peoples comments. Your first post must be made on a
weekday. If everyone waits until Sunday night to make all three posts, its not much of a
discussion!
For more information, read How discussions work in START HERE under the Content Tab.
I do not accept computer or internet problems as an excuse for late assignments (quizzes,
papers, discussions and exams), and these will not reopen once closed.
Code of Academic Integrity
Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The principle of academic
integrity is that all submitted work be your own. Conduct prohibited by the Code consists of all
forms of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to: cheating, fabrication, facilitating
academic dishonesty, and plagiarism as defined in the Code of Conduct; modifying any academic
work for the purpose of obtaining additional credit after such work has been submitted to the
supervising faculty member except when the supervising faculty member may approve such
alterations; failure to observe rules of academic integrity established by faculty member for a
particular course; and attempt to commit an act prohibited by this Code. Any attempt to commit
an act prohibited by these rules shall be subject to sanctions to the same extent as completed acts.
Students found guilty of violating the Code are subject to any one or a combination of the
following sanctions: loss of credit for the work involved; reduction in grade; failing grade
assigned in the course, written warnings, probation, suspension, expulsion or other sanctions
imposed by the University Hearing Board. For more complete information on procedures, see
the code of Academic Integrity dated April, 1997. Copies are available in the Dean of Students
office.
Writing Tutors
The university offers a variety of helpful resources for you, and I encourage you to make use of
them early and often if writing is not your strong suit. These resources are listed on our D2L
home page as well as here. Do not wait until the last minute to seek assistance.
1) The Writing Center at the Think Tank, Bear Down Gym: peer tutoring by trained, supervised
students who have been recommended by their professors for their writing skills
http://thinktank.arizona.edu/tutoring/writing
15-minute drop-in sessions feedback on one specific issue (free)
30-minute scheduled appointments in-depth discussion of your paper (free)
Online sessions
1-hour sessions, for which there is a fee
Plagiarism Awareness Workshops (must register) $30 fee

2) College of Humanities Writing Skills Improvement Plan (WISP): tutoring by specialists in

writing
http://wsip.arizona.edu/ OR writingskills@email.arizona.edu
Begin by registering (registration is free, but required for their services)
Biweekly 50-minute workshops on a variety of topics, free, beginning 9/14 (you must register)
Private tutoring: in person, via skype, or email (by appointment): 1 hour free every two weeks;
fee is charged if you wish further tutoring
Walk-in group tutoring at a variety of sites (listed on the website): free
Teaching Assistants/Graders
This course will employ the use of graders in the administration and grading portions of the
course.
The Disability Resource Center
If you have the need of an accommodation in this course, please let me know. This course
strives to accommodate students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability
Resource Center (drc.arizona.edu).
Due Dates
Due dates for discussion forums, quizzes, and reflection papers are absolute. When a drop-box,
quiz, or discussion closes, it will not be reopened. However, I do encourage communication:
should you have a documented emergency, please contact me immediately to request an
extension in advance.

SCHEDULE

Week One: 1/13-1/17: Introduction and Confucianism I

Reading: Nadeau Preface, Chapters 1-5
Discussions 1 (Introduce Yourself) and 2 (Confucianism & Religion) Due 1/17
Week Two: 1/18-1/24: Confucianism II
Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 6-7
Discussion 3 (The Rectification of Names) Due 1/24
Confucianism Reflection Paper Due 1/24
Quiz 1 open 1/22-1/24
Week Three: 1/25-1/31: Taoism I
Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 8-11
Discussion 4 (Spontaneity) due 1/31
(Optional: 1st extra credit entry due 1/31)
Week Four: 2/1-2/7: Taoism II
Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 12-13
Discussion 5 (How to Be a Good Taoist) due 2/7
Taoism Reflection Paper Due 2/7
Quiz 2 open 2/5-2/7
Week Five: 2/8-2/14: Hinduism
Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 14-18
Discussion 6 (Krishna and the Gopis) Due 2/14
Quiz 3 open 2/12-2/14
Week Six: 2/15-2/21: Buddhism I

Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 19-22

Discussion 7 (Buddhist Anatta) Due 2/21

Week Seven: 2/22-2/28: Buddhism II

Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 23-26
Discussion 8 (Buddhism in China) Due 2/28
Buddhism Reflection Paper Due 2/28
Quiz 4 open 2/26-2/28
Week Eight: 2/29-3/5: Shinto
Reading: Nadeau, Chapters 27-29
Discussion 9 (Kami and Terminology) Due FRIDAY, 3/4
Quiz 5 open 3/3-3/5
Note: All drop-boxes, quizzes, and discussion forums close at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday nights with
the exception of Discussion 9, which closes at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4 at 11:30 p.m.

Schedule subject to change